ITV

Tag: Monita Rajpal

  • CNN expands live programming in Asia Pacific region

    CNN expands live programming in Asia Pacific region

    MUMBAI: CNN is expanding its live programming in the Asia Pacific region with the launch of a primetime morning and an evening news show.

    Additionally, it has appointed two new full-time anchors Patricia Wu and Monita Rajpal to Hong Kong bureau.

    CNN International SVP Mike McCarthy said, “The Asia Pacific region is dynamic, compelling and delivers stories that shape the news day for the rest of the world. We are delighted to further increase coverage here from our headquarters in Hong Kong, through a new programming line up that reinforces our commitment to remaining the number one international news network in Asia, unmatched in our award-winning and relevant coverage.”

    Starting 19 November, the new primetime morning show, ‘CNN Newsroom, Live from Hong Kong’, will air from 3.30 am to 5.30 am IST each weekday (Monday to Friday). In the show, co-hosts Andrew Stevens and Patricia Wu will cover the top stories from Asia Pacific and across the world, along with headlines across business, sport, weather, technology and
    entertainment.

    Wu is a Hong Kong-based anchor/correspondent, having relocated from CNN’s New York studio to co-host the new Asia morning show.

    Rajpal is also relocating from CNN London to host a new Asia primetime evening news show, ‘CNN NewsCenter’. The soon-to-be launched Hong Kong-anchored ‘CNN NewsCenter’ will air from 5 pm – 5.30 pm IST each weekday.

    As part of the network’s new Asia line-up, Pauline Chiou, who has been a Hong Kong based anchor/correspondent with CNN for more than three years, will replace Andrew Stevens as the co-host of the network’s business show, World Business Today. ‘World Business Today’ airs Monday to Friday from 2.30pm – 3.30pm and 7.30pm – 8.30pm.

    Anna Coren, who has been anchoring with CNN for four years, will now be an international correspondent based out of Hong Kong, allowing her to also cover the region as news warrants.

  • CNN International launches new monthly series

    CNN International launches new monthly series

    MUMBAI: CNN International is set to launch a new monthly arts series – Icon, which will focus on visual arts, architecture, literature, music, photography, dance, opera, fashion and design, accompanied by interviews with their innovators and influencers.

    Starting 28 July, the new programme will examine how classic cultural icons have influenced new trends and ideas and will challenge itself and its viewers to identify new icons in the making.

    The show takes viewers to the Louvre and the Guggenheim, the Tate and the Turner Prize, the Bolshoi and the Met and the Venice Biennale and Fashion Weeks in a fresh, intelligent and accessible way which sees presenter Monita Rajpal stepping into the frame of the designer’s studio, going behind the camera and onto the catwalk under the eye of iconic guests and trend-spotters who share their insights and reveal their influences.

    CNN International VP of coverage and feature programming Mike McCarthy says, “Icon throws open the doors to the eclectic world of arts and culture around the globe through a mix of rare access and top-name interviews with the vibrant stars of today’s creative industries. We hope our audience will also get involved in helping us find the icons of tomorrow.”

    The channel has also launched a dedicated website for the show. Visitors can help shape Icon’s future content by voting for their own cultural icons. The most popular will be on display in an interactive gallery space online and featured on the show.

    The website hosts the ‘icon’ shows for online viewing, plus features image galleries, and will also house web-exclusive video of globally renowned cultural icons.

    Viewers can also join CNN’s community of user contributors via the iReport website.

    In the July show, CNN’s Monita Rajpal takes viewers to the Louvre Museum in Paris, where she sits down for an exclusive interview about an artist’s inspiration and fearlessness with IM Pei, the 93-year-old Pritzker Prize winning architect behind the Pyramids, now one of Paris’ most notable landmarks and recognised as a pinnacle of architectural innovation.

    Rajpal also goes behind the scenes at the museum to see the unveiling of the newly restored Venus De Milo. Plus she joins members of the Royal House of Saud, including HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities for the inaugural unveiling of The Road to Arabia, a 40-year research and archaeological project which is the Louvre’s latest exhibition.

    In August, she will travel to the Swiss Alps resort of Montreaux which has, for more than four decades, been home to the annual jazz festival. She meets founder Claude Nobs who introduces her to music icons Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock. She also meets Brazilian pop artist Romero Britto who has customised two classic Gibson guitars to auction at the festival and challenges him to redesigns the famous red CNN logo.

    The show also visits Nashville, Tennessee, the heart of the country music business, where ‘icon’ embarks upon a tour of the Gibson guitar factory to learn about one of music’s most iconic designs – the Gibson Les Paul. The team talks to several famous axemen – including ZZ Top founder Billy Gibbons – about their loving relationship with the instrument and witness the birth of the world’s first CNN Custom Gibson Les Paul!

  • CNN Intl visits India for ‘Art of Life’ special

    CNN Intl visits India for ‘Art of Life’ special

    MUMBAI: News broadcaster CNN International has announced that its show Art Of Life, which is hosted Monita Rajpal travels to India. She takes part in a unique polo match in the fabled pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan. She meets the founder of the Elephant Family charity, and has personal shopping time with British supermodel and photographer Jacquetta Wheeler.

    Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, also known as the “Pink City”, is about 250 km from Delhi and was founded by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. The city is famous for its Amber Fort, textile and jewellery industries and is home to the Cartier Elephant Polo Cup, one of the most spectacular and memorable events in the Indian Social Calendar. Monita gets to the centre of the action of this exciting and visually stunning game which is both a joy to play and watch. Four teams take part and the event attracts a heady mixture of major international and Indian celebrities, with Monita’s team being captained by Kylie Minogue’s boyfriend, the French actor Olivier Martinez.

    The polo competition is again being played in aid of the Elephant Family, a UK-based charity promoting the humane treatment of the Asian elephant. Monita talks to the founder of the Elephant Family and learns how the charity is ensuring the fair treatment of Elephants by working with both polo owners and riders. The charity also supports several conservation projects in the area, and is working to increase sponsorship of elephants to ensure their wellbeing and survival in increasingly tough conditions.

    After a spot of polo, there is only one other thing left to do on her calendar and that is to hit the famous shops and bazaars of Jaipur! British supermodel Jacquetta Wheeler, previously named Model of the Millennium by ‘The Face’ magazine, takes Monita on a treasure hunt, trawling through Jaipur’s ancient bazaars.